Liquid cooler



April 15, 1930.- T. s. MERRYLEES 1,754,756

LI QUID COOLER Original Filed Aug. 10, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I-

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April 15, 1930. T. s. MERRYLEES LIQUID COOLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 10, 1928 FIG". 1K

WITNESSES Patented Apr. 15, 1930 UNITED STATES PA'IENTIOFFICE THOMAS S. MERRYLEES, F YEADON, PENNSYLVANIA LIQUID COOLER Application filed August 10, 1928, Serial No. 298,675. Renewed September 7, 1929.

This invention relates to coolers of the fountain type wherein a receptacle for cracked pack ice encloses a jar which is surmounted by an inverted receptacle containing the supply of water or other liquid which is to be cooled.

The purpose of my invention is to enable conversion of coolers of the kind referred to so that solidified carbon dioxide or the like can be conveniently and economically used as a refrigerant in them in lieu of ordinary cracked ice with maintenance of the water at a palatable drinking temperature. As hereinafter fully explamed, I attain this desideratum by packing thermo-insulation into the space at the interiors of the coolers initially intended for the pack ice, with incidental formation of flanking pockets or chambers just 19.1 e enough to accommodate standardized unit locks of the solidified carhon-dioxide in contact with the water jar. My invention is also concerned with provisions whereby the blocks of the solidifiedcarbon dioxide, notwithstanding diminution all times'in eflicient surface pressure contact with the water jar. 7

With reference to the drawings, Fig. I shows a perspective view of a liquid cooler of the ordinary fountain type converted for use of solid carbon dioxide in accordance with my invention.

Fig. II is a plan view of the converted cooler with the lid removed or as indicated by the arrows II-II appearing on Fig. IV.

Fig. III is a lan section taken as indicated by the arrows III-III in Fig. IV.

Fig. IV is an axial cated by the arrows IV- IV in Figs. II and III.

Fig. right angles to that of Fig. IV or taken as indicated by the arrows VV in Fig. II.

, Figs. VI and VII are perspective views showing the component parts of the divided lid of the cooler. Y i

Fig. VIII is a perspective view of an insert forming a part of the conversion means. Fig. IX is a similar view of one of the coversprotecting the openings into the pockin size due to sublimation, are maintained at section taken as indi-' V is a vertical section in a plane at ets or chambers which accommodate the blocks of the solidified carbon dioxide.

Figs. X and XI show perspective views of parts constituting means for maintaining the carbon dioxide blocks in contact with the jar containing the liquid being cooled.

Fig. XII shows a perspective view of an alternate form of wedge.

The cooler herein delineated embodies an outer cylindrical casing 15 that constitutes a receptacle-originally intended for cracked pack ice-around a jar 16 occupying a slight. ly oif center position toward the front of the cooler, see Figs. I,'II, III and V. As shown, the jar 16 is surmounted by a container in the form of a bottle 17 holding the supply of the water or other liquid which is to be cooled, the bottle being inverted and its mouth fluid sealed in the jar. As a consequence, the liquid in the jar 16 is automatically replenished in proportion to quantities drawn off through a pipe 18, the latter extending forward from the bottom of said jar and through the side wall of the receptacle 15 to the exterior where it is equipped with a drain faucet 19,--all after usual and well known practise.

To convert a cooler of the kind briefly described for the purposes of my invention, I- employ an insert 20 which is shown in perspective in Fig. VIII. In the present instance, this insert 20 is fashioned from sheet metal with a rounded central ortion 20 to fit about the jar 16 .with slight circumferential clearance, and square flanking oflsets 20* with sloping end walls 20 at opposite sides of said central port1on, the whole being lined with a layer of cork or other suitable thermo-insulation in sheet form as at 20. Upon placement of the insert 20 over the jar 16 with its ofisets 20 symmetrically positioned relative to a vertical plane fore and aft centrally through the cooler, I pack a thermo-insulate composition 21 which may be of granular cork with a suita le congealing binder)into the remaining space within the receptacle 15 to a level somewhat below its brim, with 1ncidental formation however of openings 22 having walls in continuation with those of the offsets 20 for convenience of access to 10 the latter from the top of the cooler. It is to be particularly noted in this connection, that the insert 20 servesafter the manner of a retaining wall for the insulate body 21, its ofisets defining pockets or chambers 23 each just large enough to accommodate, for example, a standardized half pound block B of solidified carbon dioxide (measuring approx-- imately four by two by one inches) insurface contact with the jar 16.

To insure continuous pressure contact at all times notwithstanding shrinking through eva oration, Iprovide wedge means to urge the locks B toward the jar. As shown, this wedge means may comprise a backing plate '25 (Fig. X of metal having a facing 25 of insulation" or contact with the block B, and a gravity roller 26 (Fig. XI) which is dro ped into the interval within the pocket or c amber 23 between the backing plate 25 and the sloping end wall 20 of said chamber. Thus, as the block B gradually decreases in thickness, the roller 26 automatically descends progressively, thereby, through cooperation with the sloping end wall, causing the backing plate to move inward to maintain said block in contact with the jar as aforesaid.

In place of the backing plate 25 and roller 26, I may use a wedge of the form illustrated in Fig. XII. The wedge 37 there shown operates in the same manner to maintain the refrigerant block-B in contact with the jar 16 and has a finger-grip 37 to assist its removal from the chamber 23.

For protection against injury, I cover the exposed surfaces of the insulate packing 21 with canvas or other suitable material as conventionally indicated at 27 in Fi s. IV and V. The openings 22 into the pockets or chambers 23 are protected by removable plug-like covers 28 of insulation with perimetric flanges 28 to seat in recesses 29 about the tops of said openings, and with fin er-grips 28 one such cover being illustrate in inverted perspective in Fig. IX. For a closure over the top of the receptacle 15 I provide a diametrically divided lid with counterpart components 30, 31 se arately shown in perspective inFigs. VI, I. The lid components 30, 31, it will be observed, have registering semi-circular cut-outs 30, 31 in their straight edges to clear the protruding top of the jar 16, and thickened central areas 30", 31 that reach down to the depressed top surface of the insulate filling 21 flush with the covers 28.

Radiation through the bottom of the receptacle is effectively checked by filling the clearance space beneath it with insulate compound 35 which niay be of the same character as that employed within the receptacle, and then permanently securing a retaining disk 36 of wood or fiber thereunder.

In operation of the cooler, the refrigerating effect of the solidified carbon dioxide,

whereof the temperature is in the nei hborhood of 100 F., is effectively modi ed incident to transmission trough the comparatively thick shell of theceramic jar 16, as well as through diffusion of the eva orated gas between the chambers 23 about t e jar as a consequence of the circumferential clearance afforded within ,the rounded portion 20" of the insert 20. Freezing is positively prevented by virtue of direct communication of the jar 16 with the large bulk of the liquid and air in the bottle 17 subject to outside atmospheric influence.

From the foregoing it will be seen that throughmy invention I am able to convert, at small-cost, standard liquid coolers for use of'solidified carbon dioxide blocks with provision of a modified structure, wherein, by virtue of enclosure in heavily insulated chambers, the blocks are protected against rapid sublimation while in effective contact with the jar containing the liquid being cooled. It is, furthermore, noteworthy that the conversion is accomplished without in any way altering the original construction of thecoolers. With an ordinary cooler converted after the manner herein disclosed, it is demonstrable that, with all conditions equal, a pound of solidified carbon dioxide can be made to last as long as twenty to twenty-five pounds of ordinary cracked ice, the comparative quantities of the two refrigerants costing about the same. Finally, the expense of conversion is more than offset by the advantages gained through use of the sodidified carbon dioxide whichdisappears completely in contradistinction with the sloppiness attendant upon evaporation of ordinary ice and the frequent attention necessary in removing the residue. 7

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Conversion means of the character described for liquid coolers of the fountain type-wherein an ice receptacle surrounds a jar receiving the liquid to be cooled from an inverted supply containercomprising a body of thermo-insulation to fill the 's ace around the jar within the receptacle a oresaid but with provision of. flanking chambers each just large enough to accommodate a standardized unit block of solidified carbon dioxide in contact with the jar.

2. Conversion means of the character described for liquid coolers of the fountain typewherein an ice receptacle surrounds a ar receiving the liquid to be cooled from an inverted supply container-comprising a body of thermo-insulation to fill the s ace bers being accessible from the top of the re-- ceptaole through openings protected by individually removable covers.

3. Conversion means of the character described for liquid coolers of the fountain typewherein an ice receptacle surrounds a jar receiving the liquid to be cooled from an inverted supply containercomprising a body of thermo-insulation filling the space around the jar within the receptacle but with provision of flanking chambers each large enough to accommodate a standardized unit block of solid carbon dioxide in contact with the jar, said chambers being accessible'from above through openings protected by individually removable covers, and a divided lid fitting the top of the receptacle over. the openings into the chambers.

4. Conversion means of the character described for liquid coolers of the fountain type-wherein an ice receptacle surrounds a jar receiving the liquid being cooled from an inverted supply container-comprising an insert forming a retaining wall about the jar with provision of flanking chambers each' accommodating a standardized unit block of solidified carbon dioxide in contact with the jar, and a body of thermo-insulat-ion compound filling all the remaining space between the dinsert and thewall of the receptacle aforesal 5. Conversion means of the character described for liquid coolers of the fountain type-wherein an ice receptacle surrounds a jar receiving the liquid to be cooled from an inverted supply container-comprising an insert of metal lined with a layer or" thermoinsulation and forming a retainer wall about the jar with provision of flanking chambers each accommodating a standardized unit block of solid carbon dioxide in contact with the jar, and a body of thermo-insulation compound filling all remaining space between the insert and the wall of the receptacle aforesaid.

6. Conversion means of the character described for liquid coolers of the fountain type-wherein an ice receptacle surrounds a jar receiving the liquid to be cooled from an inverted supply container-comprising a body of thermo-insulation to fill the space around the jar within the receptacle aforesaid but with provision of flanking chambers, each accommodating a standardized unit block of solidified carbon dioxide, and

- means within said chambers to maintain the blocks of the refrigerant in contact with, the jar.

7. Conversion means of the character described for liquid coolers of the fountain type'wherein an ice receptacle surrounds a jar receiving the liquid to be cooled from an inverted supply container comprising a body of thermo-insulation to fill the space around the jar within the receptablebut with provision of flanking chambers having walls sloping downwardlyand inwardly toward the jar, each of said chambers being adapted-to. accommodate a standardized unit block of'solidified carbon dioxide in contact.

with thejar.

8. Conversion means of thecharacter def scribed for liquid coolers of the fountain type-wherein an ice: receptacle surrounds a jar receivin-g'the liquid to becooled from .an inverted supply container-comprising a body of thermo in-sulationito fill the space around the jar within the receptacle but with provision of flanking chambers with walls sloping downwardly toward the jar, each of said chambers being adapted to accommodate a standardized unitblockof solidified carbon dioxide, and means in the chambers to maintain the carbon dioxide blocks in contact with the jar, including in each instance a backing plate for the block, and a gravity roller operating as a wedge between the sloping wall of the chamber and the backing plate.

9. Means adapted to convert a liquid cooler, of the type comprising an ice receptacle surrounding a jar for receiving the liquid from an inverted supply container, for use with solid carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, said means comprising a body of thermoinsulation adapted to fill the space around the jar within the receptacle and having chambers adjacent the jar accommodating a standardized unit block of said refrigerant,

and means for maintaining the refrigerant in contact with the jar as it evaporates.

10. Means adapted to convert a liquid cooler, of the type comprising an ice receptacle surrounding a jar for receiving the liquid from an inverted supply container, for use with solid carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, said means comprisin a body of thermo-insulation adapted to fill the space around the jar within the receptacle and having chambers adjacent the jar accommodating a standardized unit block of said refrigerant, said chambers having walls sloping downwardly toward the jar, and wedge means operating between the sloping walls of the said chambers and the refrigerant blocks to maintain them in contact with the jar.

11. The method of converting liquid coolers of the fountain type-wherein an ice receptacle surrounds a jar receiving the liquid to be cooled from an inverted supply container-by fillin the space around the jar within the receptac e with a thermo-insulating compound and incidentally forming flanking chambers each just large enough to accommodate a standardized unit block of solidified carbon dioxide in contact with the ]ar.

12. Conversion means of the character described for liquid coolers, wherein a. cooling medium receptacle surrounds a container for the liquid to be cooled, comprising a body 4 nuance of thermo-insulation filling the space about the container within the receptacle aforesaid, and pockets in said thermo-insulation for reception of solidified frigorific-medinm blocks maintained in surface contact with the container by gravity influence.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 8th day of August, 1928.

THOMAS S. MERRYLEES. 

